Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
October 4, 2016
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on October 4, 2016 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Serena Furman, Vice-Chair
Cortni Frecha
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark
Jeff Saunders
Absent: Andy Snow, Chair
Sandra Grund
Doug Morse
comprising a quorum of the Commission
Also present: Kathy Sferra, Conservation Coordinator
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Minutes: Cortni Frecha made a motion to approve the minutes of September 20, 2016 as amended. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Coordinator’s Report
- Associate Member: Associate Member Tracy Arvin got in touch and said that she has a meeting conflict through this fall. Members agreed that she is welcome to stay on as an associate until she is able to attend.
- Orchard Tour: Rep. Hogan’s tour to Shelburne and Carver Hill went well. Sferra was asked to speak and talked about the Open Space Plan and the importance that it places on farms and farming, and about the APR program.
- 44 Adams: Sferra did a site visit and showed photos of the plantings. The required number of trees and shrubs was planted, but they are smaller than required. It was agreed that Sferra should follow up with the owner and say that we will want to verify next summer that the plants have established.
- Eversource: A meeting with the Selectmen is scheduled for 10/11/16. Sferra and others have worked on a briefing memo.
- Lake Drawdown: The Lake Boon Commission has voted not to proceed with drawdown at present.
- Gates Lane: The vernal pool certification forms have been submitted by Dan Wells. The office received a message about upcoming perc tests and has notified the applicant’s representative that advance consultation with the Commission is needed.
- Potential Violation: Sferra reported on a potential violation off Wheeler Road. Hegemann Clark and Sferra will schedule a site visit as permission from the right of way owners has been given.
Request for Determination of Applicability – 325 Boxboro Road – Chris Sarno
The Commission opened the public hearing. Homeowner Chris Sarno was present. Sarno explained the work that he plans to do including constructing a chain link dog fence and removing trees with the goal of restoring the area to a meadow. His plan shows the fence at the 50’ buffer line, but he would like to move it to a location between 35’ and 50’ as that is the best place for it, and the location that would minimize removal of trees. He is planning to install multiple gates with 4” of clearance above the ground to allow wildlife passage. Jacquie Goring had done a site visit and her report and photos were provided to the Commission. The Commission indicated that they would like to see the area behind the fence continue to be mowed or it will grow up into invasive species. Sarno was agreeable to doing this.
The Commission agreed to the revised fence location. Sarno also expressed interest in assisting the Commission in the future with property stewardship at Flagg Hill.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to close the public hearing Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.
The Commission discussed the Determination of Applicability and agreed that there should be mention of the revised fence location and also permission for the owner to continue mowing the meadow to the rear of the fence.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to issue a Negative #3 Determination. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.
Request for Determination of Applicability – 260 Sudbury Road – Dan Memont
The Commission opened the public hearing. Homeowner Dan Memont was present. Memont explained his plan to extend an existing garage and circular driveway within the 100’ buffer on this lot across the street from Lake Boon. Several trees will also be removed at the front of the lot near the road. Serena Furman did a site visit and reported to the Commission. She explained that the garage construction will require a fairly extensive cut into the existing grade. Memont said that stockpiling of excavated soil will be brief if any. Memont is planning to build a low retaining wall. It was noted that Sudbury Road pitches toward the lot so there should not be erosion and sedimentation to the lake. The Commission asked Memont about soil stockpiles and asked that he install erosion controls around any stockpiles. He should also keep
additional erosion controls on site so that if there is a heavy rainstorm they can be used to prevent runoff from reaching storm drains. Memont did not think that any of the drains were directed toward the lake. Don McPherson was in the audience and mentioned that he has mulch hay for sale.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to close the public hearing. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.
The Commission discussed the Determination of Applicability and inserted two conditions with regard to erosion controls including protecting stockpiles and keeping additional erosion controls at the site.
Cortni Frecha made a motion to issue a Negative #3 Determination. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously
Request for Determination of Applicability – 302 Boxboro Road – Minute Man Air Field
The Commission opened the public hearing. Don McPherson and Maryann Dipinto, his wetland consultant, were present. Don explained that he would like to take advantage of the fact that there is no flow in Heath Hen Meadow Brook to repair the headwalls where the brook is directed under the runway. He would also like to remove silt that has been deposited at the bottom of the stream and protect the channel from future erosion. He submitted a series of aerial photographs that show how the area has changed over time. Jeff Saunders did a site visit and presented additional photographs. The headwalls will be dry laid stone backed with crushed stone. Hegemann Clark asked about the velocity of the stream in the spring and questioned if the proposed stones were of adequate size. It was also suggested that fabric be placed under the stones. It was
noted that the 6-8” stones were the ones that were staying put during high velocity events. Sedimentation due to erosion is also evident. The Commission asked how much bank would be disturbed and McPherson replied that it was 150-200 linear feet. It was noted that what is described as bank may actually be land under water, and that the area is already significantly disturbed. The areas to be treated with erosion protection are the channel between the runway and the taxiway, and about 20’ on the downstream side of the taxiway. McPherson stated that only the headwall work would be done if the flow resumed. He also noted that the current condition of the headwall poses a safety issue for plowing in the winter with a risk that plows will fall into the Brook. The Commission discussed the best way to permit the project and after discussion it was agreed that the approval would be for the headwall repair with a condition that the erosion problem and the
sedimentation in the Brook must be addressed. The conditions will include using appropriately sized stone, installing filter fabric behind the stone, and sending photographs when the work is done. McPherson is hoping to do the headwall repairs this week.
Cortni Frecha made a motion to close the public hearing. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously. Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to issue a Negative #3 Determination with the conditions discussed. Jeff Saunders seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.
Request for Certificate of Compliance – 10 Ministers Way
Sferra did a site visit and showed photographs of the site. Each of the items that the owner was asked to take care of has been done including removal of lawn debris, spilled concrete and plantings. Sferra recommended that a Certificate of Compliance be issued.
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to issue a Certificate of Compliance for 10 Ministers Way. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Adjournment
Ingeborg Hegemann Clark made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 PM. Cortni Frecha seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Sferra
Conservation Coordinator
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